ILOILO CITY, Aug. 17 (PNA) -– The city government here is eyeing a possible public private partnership (PPP) approach in the revitalization and rehabilitation of the city central market with the assistance from the PPP Center.
Local Economic Enterprise Office (LEEO) chief Ariel Castaneda said the Bids and Award Committee (BAC) will soon publish the terms of bid proposal for interested investors to participate in a competitive bidding for the revitalization of the central market as part of the total revitalization project of the central business district of downtown Iloilo City.
Castaneda said the rehabilitation of the city’s oldest market is definitely not a privatization plan and the city government is not keen on awarding the market to a private business. The early plan shows a five-story market building in more than 2,000 square meters lot owned by the city government.
The revitalization entails so much cost and the city is looking for a partner investor to finance the rehabilitation and reconstruction, the LEEO chief said.
The court also dismissed a case filed by some central market vendors opposing the alleged privatization of the central market.
Castaneda admitted the city is now free to move without any legal implication regarding its plan to revitalize the dilapidating central market with possible help from the PPP Center. (PNA)